Depending on perspective, the enormous geodesic dome that partly spans the ASM International headquarters in Russell Township looks like a "space lattice," "an aesthetic ideal that reflects trends in design and philosophy" or the world's biggest jungle gym.

The Ohio Historical Society thinks it looks like a piece of history.

The society recommended the dome and office complex, along with nine other state landmarks, be added to the National Register of Historic Places.

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Tom Wolf, spokesman for the historical society, said landmarks are thoroughly reviewed before they are nominated. Consequently, nominees are usually added to the registry.

"It's not a simple rubber-stamping, but the odds are pretty good it will be listed," Wolf said.

The dome and office, cumulatively known as Materials Park, was recommended to the Ohio Historical Society for inclusion by the Chesler Group, a real estate developer with experience in historic restoration.

Materials Park was designed to be the headquarters for ASM International. Previously called the American Society of Metals, ASM changed its name to reflect a broader mission of serving the materials science and engineering profession.

Materials Park is simultaneously an office complex, work of art and a symbol for the ASM.

"It embodied the aspirations of man and his ingenuity while reflecting what he was already able to do with the materials in his environment, both of which fell within ASM's scope and mission and so were reflective of the organization's goals," according to the Chesler Group's nomination.

An example of how design reinforced the mission of the ASM: Materials Park also includes a mineral garden beneath the dome that features 66 types of mineral ores and 75 varieties of perennials, shrubs and flowering trees.

But no feature in Materials Park is more striking than the dome. It is 103 feet high, 274 feet in diameter and weighs 80 tons. It was constructed from 65,000 pieces of aluminum. It is supported by five pylons and is designed to withstand winds of 500 mph and an 8-inch coating of ice. When its construction began in 1958, it was described as a space lattice.

Materials Park was designed by Cleveland architect John Terence Kelly, renowned inventor R. Buckminster Fuller and William H. Eisenman, who donated the property.

Fuller is generally credited as the inventor of the geodesic dome. According to the Chesler Group's nomination, the Russell dome is unique among Fuller's creations because "it was not a functional structure intended to provide shelter. Rather, it was designed as a sculptural element that helped to fully integrate the building and gardens in Kelly's concept for the overall ASM Headquarters site plan."

Even excluding the flourishes of the mineral garden and the dome, the ASM office building is memorable. The Chesler Group called it "a vivid expression of Modern architecture."

The building has floor-to-ceiling windows along its three stories, none of which could be framed at 90 degrees because the building is curved. The office also makes extensive and varied use of the metals which were ASM's namesake.

Wolf said a decision regarding Materials Park would be made by the national registry within the next three months. ASM would qualify for tax credits on a planned renovation if Materials Park is added to the National Register of Historic Places.

If approved, Materials Park would be the 16th Geauga County location added to the nation register.